Control system



May 15,1945. w. A. RAY 2,375,870

CONTROL SYSTEM Original Filed Oct. 2, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 3rmentor:

WILL/AM A. A A Y,

(Ittqmeg.

May 15, 1945. w. A. RAY mmsm CONTROL SYSTEM Original Filed Oct. 2, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Bnnentor MAL/4M A. A24 Y,

attorney.

Patented May 15, 1945' Original a plication October 2, .1939, Serial No. 297,490. Divided and this application October 19, 1942, Serial No. 462,463

1 Claim.

This invention relates to control systems which include thermoelectric generating means; the present application being a division of my copending application, Serial No. 297,490, filed October 2, 1939, now Patent No. 2,301,581, dated November 10, 1942.

An object of the invention is to provide means, responsive to the difierence of temperature of a fluid within a conduit with respect to that of the surrounding atmosphere, for generating electrical energy in an amount sufficient for the operation of sensitive controldevices.

Another object is the provision of a fluid control system wherein thermoelectric generating means, responsive to the temperature of the fluid, are arranged to' energize valve means controlling passage of the fluid.

Another object is the provision, in a hot-water space-heating system, of thermoelectric generating means so arranged in the system as to be capable of generating a constant supply of electrical energy for the operation of control valves.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be found in the description, the drawings, and in theclaim; and for complete understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings; wherein:

Figure 1 is a partly diagrammatic view of a fluid control system embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the valve shown in Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken along the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Figure 4 is a plan view, with cover 51 removed, of the thermoelectric generating device indicated atl4inFig.1;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal section taken along the irregular line 55 of Fig. 4, with the cover in place; 3

' Figure 6 is a transverse section taken along the line 66 of Fig. 5;

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view of a hot-water heating system, including, control means embodying my invention; and I Figures 8 and 9 are enlarged sectional views of 1 parts of the apparatus shown in Fig. 7.

Referring first more particularly to Figs. 1-3 of the drawings, the numeral 1 1 indicates a fluid conveying conduit wherein is connected an electrically operated control valve 12 which is electricallyconnectedby wires l3, in series with a limit control or thermostat I5, to a thermoelectric generating device l4 mounted on the conduit.

'; The valve l2 comprises'a casing l6 having an inlet 11 and an outlet 18 separated by a partition 89 which is provided with a main valve port 20. A flexible diaphragm 2|, secured at its margin between the upper surface of the casing 16 and the flange of a housing or valve cover 22, is provided on its bottom surface with a main valve member 23, cooperable with the valve port 20. On the upper surface of the diaphragm 2| is a disk 24 having an upwardly-extending internallythreaded central portion 25 which provides at its upper end an annular pilot valve seat 26. A hollow screw 27, threaded in the portion 25, secures the disk 24 and the main valve member23 to the diaphragm.

Secured by screws to the plate 24 is an inverted cup-shaped housing 28 having openings 29 formed in its side wall. This housing serves to support an electromagnet device, generally indicated at 30, and comprisin an inverted cupshaped outer core 3|, a cylindrical inner core 32, and an energizing coil 33.

Arranged to be attracted by said cores when the same are energized is a disk-shaped armature 34, to the bottom'surface of which is secured, by a threaded rod 35, a pilot valve member '36 cooperable with the seat 26. Guiding means for the armature is provided by the enlarged upper end portion of rod 35, preferably of non-magnetic material, which is freely slidable in a concentric cylindrical opening formed in core 32. A spring 31, compressed against the upper end of rod 35, urges the armature away from the cores. The position of the cores with respect to the armature, when the same is in its normal or un-attracted position, may be adjusted by variation of the thickness of the pile of shims 38. Means for externally connecting a source of current to the coil 30 are provided by leads 39 and terminals 40, insulatingly secured in the upper wall of the housing 22. A stop member 41, by engagement with the upper wall of the valve housing, limits the upward movement of the electromagnet housing and thus prevents pgssible shorting of the inner ends of terminals 4 Constant fluid communication between the main valve inlet I! and pressure chamber '46,

which is defined by the upper surface of the diaphragm and the walls of valve housing 22, is

provided by a screw 42 having a'restricted opening 43 therethrough. Dependent on the character of the fluid which the valve is intended to control, this opening may be in the order of that formed by a No. to. No. drill. A screen 44, soldered to nut 45, preventspossible clogging of duces an aspirating effect which tends to reduce the fluid pressure in chamber 46.

The operation of the valve shown in Figs. 1-3, and claimed in my hereinabove-mentioned 00+ pending application, Serial No. 297,490, is as follows: Assuming that the inlet end of theconduit II is connected to a source of fluid under pressure, when the electromagnet is unenergized, the pressure above and below the diaphragm will be equalized by fluid flow from the main valve inlet into chamber 46 through the opening 43. The diaphragm being downwardh biased by the weight of the pilot valve assembly carried by it, the main valve remains closed. When the electromagnet 30 is now energized, the pilot valve is opened and the compressed fluid escapes from chamber 46 through passageway 41 more rapidly than it can enter through the restricted opening 43, permitting the fluid pressure below the diaphragm to move the same upward to open the main valve. When the electromagnet is now de-energized, the pilot valve closes and the resulting equalization of fluid pressure on either side of the diaphragm closes the main valve.

Referring to Figs, 4;6, the thermoelectric generating device, indicated at I4 in Fig. 1, will now be described. Secured by straps 50 to conduit I I is asu pporting member 5|, preferably of molded thermal and electrical insulating material, having dependent side walls, the lower ends of which engage the conduit, and a connecting top portion spaced from the conduit; Extending through openings formed in said-top portion is a series of pairs of thermoelectric elements, the elements ofeach pair being of dissimilar metals, twisted together and fused at their extremities to form at their opposite ends, and on opposite sides of said top portion, thermoelectrically opn sed u pe j nc o s 2 and lower junctions 53. The opposed junctions are conveniently termed in the ar h t and co d h twisted end p r ns a e ent lat all so that they l e clos to he surf ce o ei h r si e o th t p p r ion of member 5!. The lower junctions 53 are arranged so as 'to be affected by the temperature of the fluid within the conduit, and theupper junctions 52 substantially solely by the temperature of the atmosphere surrounding the conduit, electricity being generated when the alternate junctions are at different temperatures.

To increase the transfer of heat between the wall of the conduitand junctions 53, the Space between the conduit and the top portion and the id w ls. o membe 5 may be fil ed with a ement 54 hich has relatively o d heat coni g p operty but which is subs an a ly a non-conductor of electricity. A cement suitable for this purpose can be prepared by mixing pulverized marble with a resinous binder. Terminals 55 are provided for connecting the opposite ends of the series of elements to external leads 55. A protective cover 51 for the device is provided w op ning 58 tor .fre circu ation or a to the upper junctions.

For the system shown in Fig. 1 to be operative, it is necessary that the conduit II be at a different temperature, either higher or lower, than that of the surrounding atmosphere. This will be the case when the conduit is employed to convey, for example, refrigerant, steam, or hot water. Under such conditions, suflicient power will be generated by the thermoelectric device to energize the electromagnet of valve [2. This electromagnet, when constructed of high permeability magnetic materials, will operate on power of less than one milliwatt when it is so adjusted that the distance through which the armature must be moved is but a few one-thousandths of an inch. Movement of the pilot valve member through such a distance is sumcient, with the construction shown, to vent the upper chamber and so permit operation of the main valve.

In the system disclosed in Fig. 1, it will be seen that the valve I2 will operate automatically under the control of the device I5 which, for example, may be a thermostat responsive to a temperature condition resulting from the operation of the valve.

Obviously, when more or less thermoelectric power is required, the number of pairs of elements and/or the area of the conduit surface employed for transfer of heat or cold to the lower Junctions may be varied to suit. Or, a sensitive relay, energized by the thermoelectric device, may be employed to control a conventional electrically operated valve.

In a steam control system, suitable drainage should be provided so that the portion 01 the conduit to which the thermoelectric generating device is secured will be subiected to the Steam and free from condensed water when the valve is closed.

Referring now to Figs. "1, 8 and 9, wherein a ot wa er heatin system for a plurality of rooms or spac s is disc ed. he num ral I00 indicates a sour of h t water which is constantly circulated in the direction of the arrows by a pump lol through main conduits I02 and H13 and th ir interconnecting branch conduits I04, I05 and I06.

Connected. ne in each oi s id. ranches. are like fittings I01, I88 and I09, an example 01 which s shown in detail in Fig. 8, and other like fittin 0. Ill. and H2, an examp e of which is shown in Fig, 9- Tbe fittings shown in. Fig 8and 9 are identical in structure and each compriflcs a pip I having an nt rnal projecting pout H3- The fittings I01. I08 and H18 are connected in th branch nduits, as s own in Fig. 8, with their spouts projected in the Opposite direction to that of the flow of water in the branches and. thus act t divert some of the water upward into the verti al pines H and 6, The other fittings III), III and H2 are connected, as shown in Fi 9, wi h their spouts pr j d in the dir tion of water flow and thus act as aspirate to Produc a partial va uum in th ver ical. Pip

H1, H8 and H9.

Connected respectively, through valves I30, III and 22, t each of the pairs or vertical pipes are conventional hot water radiators I23, I 24 and I25. h valves. are electrically connected by ca 6, I and 12 throuehrcom thermostats 29, I30 and I3]. to thermoelectric genera ing devices 132. I33. and I3 respectively. The va es an herm electric n ating devices may be or the type shown in Fig Hi and function in a similar a ner to that oi the system shown in Fig. 1 and described hereinabove in connection therewith, the main diflerence being that in the system of Fig. 7 the thermoelectric devices are connected to portions of the conduit through which the hot water is constantly circulated, even when the radiator control valves are closed. As has previously been noted, in a steam-heating system, suitable drainage is provided so that the portion of the conduit ahead of the Valve, and on which the thermoelectric generating device is mounted, remains hot even when the valve is closed. In accordance with the demand of their individual thermostats, the valves, energized by the thermo electric devices, open to permit that part of the hot water flow which is influenced by the special fittings lUI-IOB and H I3H2 to pass through the radiators.

While I have herein shown and described specific embodiments of my invention, I wish it to be understood that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and that I intend therefore to be limited only by the scope of the appended claim.

I claim as my invention:

In a temperature-changing system for a plurality of spaces: a main conduit having portions respectively adjacent each of said spaces; a

source of fluid, the temperature of which differs substantially from the desired temperature of the spaces; means for continuously circulating said fluid through said main conduit; a secondary conduit for each of the spaces and lay-passing the corresponding adjacent portion of the main conduit; there being for each of the spaces a heat-exchanger connected in the secondary conduit for the corresponding space, an electrically operated valve for controlling passage of said fluid through the heat-exchanger, a thermoelectric generating 'device for energizing the valve, and means responsive to the temperature of the space for controlling the energization of the valve; and means for subjecting said thermoelectric generating devices to the temperature of the fluid in the corresponding adjacent portions of the main conduit.

WILLIAM A RAY. 

